La Dolce Vita
Italian restaurant · Belmar ·

La Dolce Vita

Italian restaurant · Belmar ·

Oceanfront Italian & seafood with generous portions & patio

seafood
friendly staff
generous portions
great views
delicious food
calamari
pasta
great drinks
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null
La Dolce Vita by null

Information

400 Ocean Ave N, Belmar, NJ 07719 Get directions

$30–50

See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended
Cozy

Information

Static Map

400 Ocean Ave N, Belmar, NJ 07719 Get directions

+1 732 749 3177
ladolcevitanj.com
@ladolcevitabelmarnj

$30–50 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Romantic
•Trendy

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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The Guide to the Best Food and Drink at the F1 Miami Grand Prix 2024 | Eater Miami

"I'm glad La Dolce Vita will be among the outposts attendees can find throughout the Grand Prix grounds." - Olee Fowler

https://miami.eater.com/2024/5/1/24145950/formula-one-grand-prix-miami-florida-where-to-hard-rock-2024
La Dolce Vita

Yuli

Google
We came here with friends, a group of 6. So a pitcher of Red Sangria + appetizers and main courses. Generous portions. Everything was delicious, especially pei mussels and my main dish, which is one of their special items on the menu - pasta Primavera with shrimp. It was so good, I am glad the waiter suggested it over rigatone vodka. The wait was longer than anywhere I have been recently, but it was a Saturday evening and the place was packed, it was also a little hot inside. Anyway, having said that, I am craving to come back for the food.

Jess S

Google
First time here in all my yrs of going to Belmar Beach! I ordered the CHICKEN ROLLATINI –Prosciutto, red peppers, spinach, fontina cheese, Homemade Florentine raviolis, peas, tomato cream sauce. It was DELICIOUS! Enjoyed the salad, fresh bread, and the delicious eggplant topping for the bread. We were seated immediately tho it was busy. Friendly staff, our waiter Michael was excellent. Didn’t wait long for our dinner to be served. Not too noisy, just comfortable. Nice atmosphere by the beach. I will definitely be back when in the area! Thank You for our nice dining experience at La Dolce Vita! Blessings to everyone!

Kelly G.

Google
We have been here before and had good experiences but we unfortunately had a quite poor one this last go around. While the food is good, they really pack the tables in so you are on top of each other. Several members at our table were bumped by servers running by the entire meal because of how close the tables were sat together. During dessert, while our waiter was putting cappuccinos on the table, a patron from the table behind us (again, the tables were very packed in) bumped our server who accidentally spilled a hot cappuccino down my husbands shirt, all over my coat and into my purse. No one ever came to apologize to my husband and my mom and I raced to the bathroom to try and clean cappuccino and milk froth off of a designer purse and bag. I totally get that accidents happen, but I would have expected a manager to immediately come over, check on everyone (hot drink spill) and apologize. We never heard from a manager, and while the waiter said sorry, I did not find this to be acceptable given the circumstances at a restaurant where we are spending $300+ on a meal. They gave us two of the desserts for free, but again, someone should have come over, apologized, and offered to pay for dry cleaning for all of the items damaged. On our way out, because we understand this was an accident but thought this was mishandled, I asked to speak to a manager to explain what had happened and ask if they would pay for the dry cleaning. The gentleman I spoke to said they could offer me a $100 gift card for the next time we came in to the restaurant or I could bring in the dry cleaning receipt. I said that dry cleaning would suffice and asked if he wanted to take my name and phone number and he said no. There was no anger or malice from either party and the food is very good but based off of the handling of this distressing and quite honestly dangerous situation (hot drink spill), I am quite disappointed and we will not be coming back. Picture of part of the inside of my coat (it was all over but this is the only picture from when we were cleaning in the bathroom).

Laura G.

Google
I went with my parents on a weekend in May. The food was very good, and the portions of everything were generous. The location is great and the hostesses and people bussing tables were efficient (although at one point they tried to clear a plate my dad was in middle of eating). Our server was straight garbage. She was friendly and was clearly experienced, but she never checked on us. When we flagged her down (mid-appetizers) she point blank told us that she just forgot to even put in our wine order. When she finally brought wine glasses, she noticed one was dirty after already starting to pour the wine. They didn’t give us appetizer dishes, so we had to use our bread plates. The waitress told us that because she goofed the wine order, “the dessert” was on her. When we actually ordered 2 desserts she sounded annoyed - She then charged us for both of the desserts we ordered, and when we politely told her that she had said that we wouldn’t be charged for the dessert, she immediately said we were correct - and then removed just the cheaper of the two desserts from the bill. I will not be returning because of the overall experience.

Este

Google
We had a great 4th of July weekend dining experience at this Italian gem by the ocean. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and professional — we truly felt welcomed and cared for. Our waiter Enzo ( ? Young man, was very nice and attentive) The food was outstanding, with every dish bursting with authentic Italian flavor and the drinks were equally impressive — refreshing, well-crafted, and beautifully presented. The ambiance was a perfect blend of elegance and relaxation, made even more magical by the stunning ocean view. Whether you’re looking for a romantic evening or a special night out with friends, this place delivers on all fronts. Highly recommended!

Slava R.

Google
Very popular place on the Belmar boardwalk. Good variety of dishes, seafood and drinks. Service was good. Since it was Friday night it was very noisy. Otherwise food was tasty.

Angela I.

Google
Had an amazing lunch experience here with a friend! Drinks were made perfectly, portions are fair, and service was great! They have both indoor and outdoor seating.

Kalee M

Google
honestly had high hopes for this place, drove 45 minutes for this to be my anniversary dinner. we got here, we were seated and already its super close to the person next to u and extremely tight. i order a 8 OZ fliet mignon for $48!!!! hoping that it was a big portion to fill me along with the choice of mash potatoes and asparagus. my boyfriend ordered the chicken parm. when we received our orders, immediately disappointed. my mignon was NOT 8 OZ and not medium as i asked and was also dry. i got 5 unseasoned asparagus and a small portion of mashed potatoes that i couldn’t finish because of the taste. My boyfriends meal came with pasta that was severely undercooked and chicken that was cold and chewy. service was extremely slow. and up front was very unprofessional. only nice thing was rhe sunset photo i got🤷‍♀️
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Chris K.

Yelp
We enjoy this Jersey Italian shore spot and we've been here twice. Portions are big and the cooking is solid. It's always busy and can be a bit noisy inside, but the vibe is very good and friendly. We opted for all seafood, since we were following the shore rule, I e when within 1 mile of the shore you must eat seafood. LoL. Scampi was the most beautiful, but my seafood risotto was absolutely delicious. I had veal parmesan the previous time and it was also excellent.
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Steph S.

Yelp
Great location right across from the beach! Cute atmosphere and decor. Lots of great menu items to choose from. We got fried calamari and a pizza. The fried calamari was a generous portion, and the pizza was good. Pricing was good. Service was a tad slow for a not busy day, but otherwise we enjoyed and would come back. It's a great place to get off the beach and grab lunch before heading back for an afternoon on the beach. Some people came dressed for lunch and we had walked right off the beach with bathing suits and a cover up. So either works.

Alexandria G.

Yelp
My entree was good. I got the rigatoni bolognese. My family got the orecchiette barese and pork chop kinsel. They were not too impressed. However, I'm really here to complain about desserts. Tiramisu plating is horrible, but it tastes good. You can't get a full bite of all flavors unless you're digging down. Big daddy cake plating is too narrow and it really should be a warmed up a little. Lastly, why on earth would anyone want Juniors cheesecake as opposed to a homemade Italian one? Glad we tried it, probably won't be back compared to some other spots nearby. I enjoy letting businesses know of some logistic updates that should be made. Not great, not bad.
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Joyce K.

Yelp
A friend and I walked in around 30 min after the restaurant opened and we sat outside. We each ordered an aperol spritz which was delicious! I got the crab cake sandwich and my friend got the poke bowl, which despite being on the appetizer menu, it was enough as a full meal for one person. My crab cake sandwich was pretty good but my friend didn't like her poke bowl as much since it was drowning in soy sauce. Her stomach also severely hurt after the meal. Overall, we enjoyed the aperol spritz aspect of the restaurant/meal so we would probably return just for a drink.
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Lindsay S.

Yelp
right by the ocean they have a great happy hour by the bar area. This was our go to spot for the summer. The service was good.
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Julia P.

Yelp
Food is great this was my second time there. Drinks are too strong though. Pizza is great there I got the bruschetta pizza last time I got the margarita both great. I ordered the chicken franchise it was really good. The restaurants decorated so cute with the orange arch. The bathrooms had no ac though it was hot in there. I've tried the salad to there and the giant meatball both really good as well.

John B.

Yelp
I really enjoy the bar at this restaurant. Joe is a great bartender. He's a funny light hearted guy who makes you feel like family. If you've had a tough day Joe always lifts you up. Food is always great. It's my local "go to". Highly recommend you go here and enjoy the food and the ocean front views. Stop by and see Joe and enjoy the laughs.
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Bonni R.

Yelp
The best part of happy hour at The Dolce Vita isn't the ocean view, the delicious food, or the comfy vibe - it's the bartender, Joe. He made us feel like regulars and was so much fun. Three of us shared the meatballs marsala, the mozzarella tower, the mini ossobuco, and tuna carpaccio. We also had the delicious cannoli for dessert. Joe makes perfect drinks and is so warm and welcoming. We had a great time at happy hour and I'll definitely be back when I'm in town.
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Sherri G.

Yelp
We made a quick stop at La Dolce Vita while strolling along the boardwalk for our final happy hour of the summer. They have a great bar that you can sit at while watching the waves crash on the beach. Our bartender, Mike, crafted an amazing Pomegranate Martini--strong and delicious. My husband had the house Chardonnay, which was smooth and not overly oaky (if that's a word!). We started with some warm bread, served with a flavorful eggplant sauce and seasoned olive oil. For appetizers, we enjoyed the cheeseburger sliders and filet mignon tips on crostini. The horseradish sauce paired with the filet tips was a standout, and we even used it to dip our sliders--it was that good! To top it all off, we ended with the complimentary cannoli offered for checking in on Yelp--a perfect sweet finish to a fantastic happy hour.
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Carla N.

Yelp
I am not sure what protocol is for gift cards, but, I purchased a gift card for $400 for my aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary in March 2023. The card was never used. My aunt passed away last week. She never used the gift card. The family decided to host a luncheon yesterday at this restaurant after her funeral. We had an e-mail she had printed for gift card but it did not have gift card number. I tried several times to appeal to the restaurant to honor this card. They said they changed computer systems last year and have no way to look this card up. In spite of the fact that on my first call they said since they changed computer systems the had to reissue all gift cards. Needless to say they would not honor the $400 gift card yesterday so we are out $400.
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Jen K.

Yelp
Had dinner there last night. Wasn't pleased. Disappointing- have had many meals there before and it was decent. New chef? Not sure we will back.
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Lori F.

Yelp
We tried: Watermelon margaritas $14 Char grilled octopus $22 Rigatoni Bolgonese $24 Lobster Ravioli $32 They offer a charming atmosphere with exceptionally courteous service. The food was cooked to perfection and we met the owner/ chef - he was delightful.

Kathy A.

Yelp
Delicious food and very friendly service in a lovely casual restaurant across the street from the beach in Belmar. Tonight I had Fusilli Caponata, easily the best meatless pasta dish I've ever had anywhere. The portion was very generous, enough for another meal. Finished off with also very delicious Limoncello cake. Even the bread at the table is noteworthy. Go early, snag a window seat, you won't regret it.

Noreen O.

Yelp
Made a reservation in this l Dolce vita restaurant tonight for our to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. This place was recommended by a friend We are locals live 15 mins away from belmar but had not eaten here before arrived. The manager seemed very nice and sat us at the table. Then we got this waiter an old, grey haired short man with grey beard pretty grumpy but OK we ordered the pitcher of their signature sangria i. asked for heavy on the alcohol.but It tasted just like fruit punch not too much alcohol in it at all We ordered the calamari was OK nothing great. Came with red sauce with pesto on top not a good combination and but ate it anyway we struggle to get a waiter attention to get some more sauce without the pesto. To finish the calamari, Finally got that I had ordered the filet mignon and my husband ordered the rack of lamb. The waiter was not helpful about what came with what sides . We had to ask he was so grumpy The main course arrived was served by some other waiter. The fillet mignon was swimming In olive oil. Just awful had to take it off and put to the side of my plate There was no kind of steak juice or sauce surrounding it. Nothing mashed potatoes were old and reheated. The asparagus was pretty good. my husband's rack lamb came with some really weird mashed potatoes. Don't really know what they were looked like yogurt and soggy spinach not great. The lamb was pretty good. The waiter never returned to the table to ask if we needed anything or if everything was OK nothing however we had noticed he had gone to other tables When it came time for him to collect the plate we had asked for the bones of the lamb for our dog. He just nodded then I had asked how come the steak was in olive oil It seems strange. He never answered me just rudely took the plate and left. He returned to ask if we needed anything else my husband said no he then returned with the check. My husband paid the exact amount in cash the waiter came back quickly and took it . We had discussed how obnoxiously rude he was and what percentage of a tip we were gonna leave. He then walked past our table with the bill folder in his hand and muttered "do not come back "so my husband asked me what he said. I said I didn't clearly hear him, but my husband did was shocked that that's what he said so my husband called him over and asked him why he was so rude and wouldn't answer the question I had asked about the steak in olive oil he said well she ate it so there was nothing I could do about it. My husband said we were not looking for any compensation she was just asking a question and you were so rude you didn't even answer her Then my husband asked why he had said such a rude comment about not to come back He claimed he didn't then he totally blew my husband off and proceeded go to the next table beside us .My husband said I heard what you said he said I'm not talking to you I'm dealing with this table now and rudely blew us off again So we then decided. We were not going to tip him got up went to the desk spoke to the manager, told him what had transpired the manager was shocked and apologized. My husband said I was going to leave him. Tip, but he thought because I paid the exact amount in cash and hadn't given him a tip with the payment that I wasn't tipping him even though he was a terrible waiter and so obnoxiously rude,but because he told us not to come back. I am certainly not going to leave him a tip now .. and we will not be back again. And by the way We are not tourist. We are locals and that's a terrible way to be treated so I give this place a one star the food we had is only ok overpriced and not great and the waiter was absolutely obnoxious, rude and arrogant. don't have his name and old short guy with a grey hair and a grey beard... on the check it states server :Dolce S
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Monica D.

Yelp
It was my first visit here celebrating a friends birthday with a group of 11. We were seated right away and ordered our drinks. We all shared a bunch of appetizers and everything was fantastic; fried calamari, stuffed meatball with ricotta, tuna carpaccio, antipasto, etc. For my entrée, I ordered the stuffed pork chop which was outstanding however the broccoli rabe that came with it was absolutely flavorless. The only other complaint I had was not mine but my friend ordered a steak medium rare and it was cooked well. Our server was so friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back.

Chris A.

Yelp
Went here last night for easter dinner. The place was packed, good thing we had a reservation. We got some bread to start, mussels fra diavolo, and this seafood platter. everything was delicious, I got an orange crush too which was refreshing. My main dish I got the fettuccine dolce vita, it was good but just a little bland and only gave a few shrimps with it. Nice restaurant on the shore

E J.

Yelp
Used to be our favorite spot after the beach. Would go here twice a week. But between the loud crazy music where we can't talk to the lack of good help, we will find a new place to go. So sad.
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Mike B.

Yelp
My dish Petto di Pollo Sorrentino was really good! Chicken was very juicy, sauce was delicious, raviolis were very good as well. Only issue I would have is that it was over stuffed with spinach that was a little too much. The clams and Barratta from the appetizer menu was very good. The chicken Frances's was bland and disappointing. The service was excellent! The waitress was very pleasant, helpful and attentive! The place is very nice! The only issue we had was that it seem to get very warm in there.

Kimberly S.

Yelp
Food is wonderful... some of the staff are beyond rude. Ruined the whole experience. Staff used to be great... something has changed. Belmar local here... Will not be going back.

Rosanna S.

Yelp
We went to enjoy the Happy Hour.... The bartender was so very rude!!! We walked out. Won't be going back!!

Ginny S.

Yelp
Food was really good, no complaints! Portions were huge. A bit pricey though. My only issue was how noisy and crowded the restaurant was. Granted it was a Saturday night in the summer so I guess it was to be expected. Definitely going back but after summer is over. Worth checking out!

John D.

Yelp
My wife and I just dined there. Restaurant week. Outstanding! Amazing! Sausage and fava bean starter...great! Stuffed mushrooms...terrific! She had the chicken special, I had the oso buco...both great! Terrific desserts and Clay the server was top notch. We will be back real soon! A do not miss!

Judith C.

Yelp
The food is really good but the restaurant is managed poorly. There is no point making a reservation because you will wait anyway. The hostess is rude. The bar is small and over crowded with patrons waiting for a table. It seems like they are trying to rush you through your expensive dinner. It is not fine dinning. Too bad because the location is great. Very disappointed.

Chris M.

Yelp
I generally steer clear of writing bad reviews and it takes a lot to make me really unhappy with a restaurant, but it happened here. I've had two dinners at La Dolce Vita. The first was five years ago, before I moved away. I remember thinking that the meal was tasteless and expensive. I moved back recently and a friend wanted to go because it was a beautiful summer day and the ocean view location is great. I don't like making decisions about a restaurant from a single experience, so I was up for it. It was MUCH worse this time. The chicken of my $35 entrée was like leather. Did they prepare it days ago and leave it in the refrigerator? It seemed like it. The ravioli looked great, but had just about no taste. The staff was very nice, but there weren't enough of them and they were badly trained. The two bartenders (where we ate) were overwhelmed. One of them was also waiting and BUSSING tables. It took around 10 minutes to get to order a drink and nobody checked on us at any time. I'll probably go back for the happy hour, which is great. But I'll never pay those prices for that food again.
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Ric T.

Yelp
The setting is very nice on Ocean Av in Belmar. Tablecloth dining . The Branzino was excellent but the roasted potatoes were dry and the spinach had little or no flavor. I added lemon and butter myself to spice it up. The prices in general are way too dear. If you want gourmet, introduce soft whipped butter not hard diner packets. The roasted lemon w/the branzino should have a cloth covering it to catch the seeds from falling into the entree. I thought the entree came out too quickly 8 min??? Look at the menu prices online before dining. Staff, though friendly, is a tad slow for a rather quiet dining room, perhaps they were understaffed. Parking is metered. Can be a problem in the hectic summertime.

Serah G.

Yelp
The service here was absolutely abysmal, I was so disappointed after reading good reviews. The hostess did not look up my reservation so she sat us inside instead of out & basically threw our menus at the table. The poor waiter definitely needed some additional help; he had a huge area to himself and apologized for the long wait to take our orders. They ran out of bread (at an Italian restaurant!) and we were without water or anything to drink for over 45 minutes. The food was decent when it came out, but they didn't give us cheese for the pasta. At that point, we were just tired and ready to leave. They definitely need more staff and better training for an eatery down the shore!

Lionel S.

Yelp
Great dinner in every aspect! Not a quiet romantic spot but we went there for the food! Not disappointed.

Michael C.

Yelp
I was treated so poorly here on Sunday June 29, 2025. I reached to the owner but I have been ignored. I was kicked out for no reason and they demanded I return my drink which I already paid for. That is attempted theft and it is illegal for a restaurant in NJ to demand an item back that is already paid for without offering a refund. My rights were violated. Their manager who kicked me out screamed the f word and giving me the middle finger in the presence of children. All because I wanted to enjoy my cocktail on the patio where I thought it was perfectly fine to drink. I know my rights were violated. I have reached out to the BBB and plan on taking as much action as I can. ​​​
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Suzette G.

Yelp
I never fail to stop here and enjoy a consistently delicious lunch or dinner when I'm in town. Ordered: Fantasia di Mare - Seafood salad with shrimp, calamari, octopus, and mussels in a house special lemon vinaigrette. PERFECTION

Gabriela B.

Yelp
Food was great, drinks were great but service sucked.... All the servers huddle around the hostess station and gossip you can literally hear them. I came solo and ordered simple and it took forever to get my drink and food and server only came around once. I had to ask another sever for another drink. Kinda of annoying when you see all the severs around the hostess station talking. I would understand if it was busy but they are just there yapping and not taking care of there tables ....

Josh C.

Yelp
I was never this motivated to write a review before but because of the absurd amount of money that was charged and the food quality that simply DID NOT deliver whatsoever. I was charged 28.95 for pasta that was undercooked, and the sauce was watery. On top of all that I was charged 7 extra dollars for chicken that was lazily chopped and thrown in, and it was completely flavorless on top of it. My friends that came with me got similar experiences with their pasta and one dish even had to be sent back due to how raw the pasta was. We also had to wait 45 mins for our food. Overall, bad food for an insane price.
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Susan M.

Yelp
Easter dinner today. The restaurant was full. All four of us know we had each a terrific meal. A burrata appetiser delicious. Salmon stuffed with crab. Lamb shank with polenta, seafood with ravioli and a gnocchi with chicken. All served with perfect sauces and generous portions. Sal our service was amazing he's a blend old world charm and American energy, he made our Easter dinner perfect.
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Mike R.

Yelp
We reserved a table for a birthday dinner, but they failed to provide their end. The restaurant brought the apps and even though the meatball was good, it was cold. After nearly an hour waiting for our entries, the waiter showed but still didn't have a status on the meal. We decided to pay and leave. The views were good but the "dinner" was a disappointment .
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Katie A.

Yelp
To be honest, I've visited La Dolce Vita in the past and was never wowed by the food. It was always decent Italian fare, but I never loved what I ordered. However, my husband and I dined here over Labor Day weekend and had an excellent meal from start to finish! We sat outside to enjoy the last of the summer weather, but next time I think we'll ask to sit inside instead. There were a lot of flies that day, and you can't see much of the beach; it's mostly a view of Main Street. The indoor dining area is much nicer! Our server (pretty sure her name was Margot) was very friendly and accomodating! My husband ordered a beer that they were almost out of, so she brought him what they had left (about a half of a glass) for free. So nice of her! For appetizers, we ordered the Calamari Fritti al Filetto and the Burrata Special. The calamari is a must-order, it's served over red sauce and pesto, so it's packed with flavor compared to your typical calamari dish. The calamari was perfectly crispy too, just enough breading without being too much. I personally hate over-breaded calamari dishes, so this was perfect! The burrata special was awesome too, I hope they add it to their permanent menu! It was plated with a few different Italian meats, and the burrata was mouth-watering. For entrees we ordered the Burrata Alla Pesto (without the tomatoes) and the Chilean Sea Bass al Pistachio. The pesto, artichokes, and burrata made the Burrata Pesto sooo good, it was such a delicious combination. The chilean sea bass was a really unique dish, and the sea bass was cooked perfectly. Both portions were huge too, we had plenty of leftovers! Looking forward to dining here again next summer!
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Mike P.

Yelp
So dispointed !! Went last night with family for a nice holiday dinner, first time here, and was not good at all. Drinks and service good, but the food -OMG, not good. I had the crab cakes, which were literally like hockey pucks, fried bread and probably 1% crab meat. Before ordering them i asked the waiter if they were made onsite, and he said yes - but NO way, there were most likely frozen from some box. Another had veal saltimboca, basically a thick piece of veal, not pounded or thinned at all, a layer of ham and then cheese with a brown sauce - no flavor, very tough. Even the chicken parm was thick and not prepped correctly. Very disapointing - especially for a $200 3-some. Will not return

Jera H.

Yelp
Great variety of food. Often offer specials, the ones I've tried have been great. Doesn't matter how busy it is the food is always good. The bar area is open and music is loud. If you are looking for a quiet meal, go during lunch. It's a fun place at the shore, with a lively ambiance! If you have sweet tooth, order the desserts when you order the meal. They tend to run out of popular options. The only downside is that huge venue has limited # of restrooms. Maybe they'll fix that over time.
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Emily B.

Yelp
After spending literally 2 hours for our dinner, watching all the tables who sat down after us get their food, we finally got our dinner with a halfhearted explanation of: "it was hectic tonight". Nonetheless our waiter still tacked on a 20% obligatory tip. Throughout the night we had to ask numerous times for small things we needed (olive oil, refill of waters) and oftentimes would be met by our waiter simply turning his back and then forgetting. I don't mean to be a Karen but honestly this place was such a let down. Not to mention it was my sister's bachelorette weekend so this place really put a damper on her experience. We are more than kind and understanding but over 2 hours waiting for dinner.... Unacceptable.
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Alexa C.

Yelp
I came to La Dolce Vita for a family friend's memorial service the weekend before Thanksgiving. I've dined on the outdoor patio for dinner in the summer, but wasn't familiar with their other service. The host, Michael, was extremely accommodating and made us feel welcome. From there and especially as guests started arriving however, service became a little disorganized. As for the dining experience, there were several fixed options to choose from, including salmon and a vegetable medley. Unfortunately the food left a lot to be desired, the salads were served dry and I bit down on something that was so hard that I thought I broke my tooth. It looked like a small piece of charcoal on the end of a piece of potato. Yikes! When waiting for the bathroom, I noticed that the restaurant is decorated with past accolades and honors, so I'm hopeful that it can retain its status.
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Sarah R.

Yelp
I had a really lovely birthday dinner here. All of us got (and enjoyed) pasta dishes. The white clam sauce was delicious although the rest of the party was nearly done eating before I had all of the clams out of their shells. The calamari was a disappointment - big, rubbery rings. Wouldn't get them again. Nice atmosphere and good service - will be back!

Barefoot F.

Yelp
A very nice place a little on the fancy side for me and it's not cheap. The portions are large so that makes it worthwhile . I was there once before this past summer and thought it was great. I returned again and ordered a chicken Parm the the meal was not hot And did not love the chicken as it seemed like it had too much breading. The sauce was on the sour side, so was not in love with that either. There were four of us in the dinner party and nobody seemed to have anything positive to say one person felt the real veal saltimbocca was not that great either.
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Louis L.

Yelp
Have been meaning to get here for a bit, as I always liked the setup. Seems like a nice clean and convenient place right by the ocean on the quiet side of Belmar. Well, that it is. And the experience was a good one. Price - up there, but you get a lot. And it is still cheaper than other options in the area. Also, there is very little pretension to this place. It is nice, without being snobby. The food - We ordered the meatball to start. Very large! Tasty too, and with a nice chunk of ricotta cheese. The sauce was nice...not too much oregano, and not too sweet. Ditto for the Chicken parmigiana. I myself got the clam sauce and boy oh boy do you get a nice helping of clams! The atmosphere - lots of different options. You have the outdoor option (I myself am not a fan. In the winter its too cold and the summer is too hot. This is not a criticism of this place in particular, just a general one). But for those who like that sort of thing, there is plenty, and they have umbrellas for the sun and you get look at the boardwalk if that is your thing. The inside is well air-conditioned, and well appointed. The service - they will not wow you, or rush you. If you need anything, just raise your hand and they'll be happy to help. Overall, I recommend. Enjoy.

Eileen M.

Yelp
I have ordered the pistachio encrusted Chilean sea bass multiple times over the years and it was excellent!! Last night was a big disappointment as the crushed pistachios were placed on the fish( as well as the special's scallop dish) ,not encrusted as previously The risotto and spinach were just thrown on the plate - sloppy and also tasteless We are loyal customers! Very disappointing- hoping it was just an off day!
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Klaudia W.

Yelp
One of those spots in Belmar where you always have a good meal! The food and drinks are always amazing, I love having Matteo as a server! We always request him. Recently had carpaccio appetizer and omg .... Amazing !! I also had the clams casino and stuffed salmon which was great !
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Mariah J.

Yelp
This spot is right on the beach with great views, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The shrimp cocktail was delicious. We also got the Billy's seafood Rissotto and the Pesto alla Buratta. The food was 10/10. We also enjoyed the watermelon martini and the cucumber martini. Our server was prompt, but lacked friendliness, he didn't tell us his name, he just came up and said "drinks or no?" Overall, we enjoyed the location, food and drinks and will be back again!
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Alex S.

Yelp
Dismissive and unfriendly blond hostess wouldn't seat me outside or in the dining area at 8:40pm (restaurant closes at 10pm) and said I could only eat at the bar despite the bartender telling me otherwise and there being plenty of open tables
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Robert W.

Yelp
The staff is not very friendly. The female manger was not nice person. They seat us under the air conditioner vent that was dripping water. We had to push our table so we don't get wet. The staff would not help. It all open so it's not cold place in the world. But the food is out of this world. The food is amazing! I was also not happy that I was charged 15 dollars to use my debit card. Not sure if I would recommend. Might give it one more chance.

Ken G.

Yelp
Had a Party of 20 at LaDolce Vita recently and the Drinks , Apps , Food and Service were exceptional. It's difficult to coordinate a Party that size but everyone did and outstanding job . Highly recommend to all .

Donna M.

Yelp
Always love dining at La Dolce Vita. From the moment you arrive to the time you leave, the staff make you feel welcome and special. They are all so attentive. The food is always excellent and the portions are generous and the prices reasonable. It's decorated for the holidays and it looks inviting. The fireplace adds to the atmosphere.

Howie B.

Yelp
Across the street from the beach. dine in or outside with great views. Very authentic Italian cuisine. large portions. appropriately spiced. good, patient, attentive service. seafood dishes are excellent. full bar. on street parking. casual despite the white tablecloths. everything ala carte so a bit pricey.